But the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was making his way into the backfield and his impact on the game went way further than pure staistics.

Pohlman’s high school football career seemed to be over when he tore his left ACL in Mainland’s fourth game on Sept. 27 at Bridgeton. Just over a month and four games later, Pohlman was back on the field.

The senior limped noticeably when he wasn’t rushing the passer and the two-way lineman basically stuck to alternating series on defense, but he still made his presence felt. And he will continue to do so as long as the Mustangs stay alive in the postseason, beginning with Saturday’s South Jersey Group 4 rematch against Ocean City.

Buy these game photos: We offer reprints in a variety of sizes. Open the gallery above and select “BUY IMAGE” to purchase yours now.

Pohlman, who wants to play in college, will have surgery once the season is over – whenever that may be – as part of a defense that has allowed double-digit points in only two of eight games. Undefeated Mainland is the No. 2 seed in the bracket.

“I knew how big this game was, everybody was saying it was the biggest game since 2000, conference champions,” said Pohlman of last week’s game. “Senior year, I love these guys and I want to do something special with them, so I want to try to make a playoff push, so I’ve been rehabbing, trying to get out there. It’s definitely a lot different with a torn ACL, I wasn’t 100 percent, couldn’t get the pass rush I wanted but I did what I could. It meant the world to me to be out there.”

Mainland's Brayden Pohlman (55) is slow to get up vs. Ocean City in the second quarter, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Pohlman said his doctor happens to be Mainland linebacker Drew Demorat’s father, who has also been his coach.

“It’s actually a big risk playing on it, but only my ACL is hurt, and my doctor has been coaching me forever and he knew how much it meant to me just to play again, so he gave me the option to have surgery or rehab four weeks and try to play on it,” said Pohlman. “I made the decision to be back with the boys.”

Mainland coach Chuck Smith said Pohlman told him right after he found out the extent of the injury his goal was to play again against Ocean City.

“He really wanted to play against Clearview, because (Clearview lineman Rashann Tompkins) dominated him last year,” said Smith. “He didn’t get his chance, but he told me he would be back against Ocean City and there he was all taped up and bandaged up."

Linebacker Sean Bradley finished with four of the seven sacks, and he gave Pohlman credit for giving it a go with his injury.

“That’s other-worldly, I haven’t seen that from anyone but him, but if it’s going to be anyone it will be that man right there,” said Bradley.